Detonating-alarm fire-extinguisher.



PATENTBD AUG. 16,' 1904,

M. A. LIBBEY, DETONATING ALARM FIRE BXTINGU ISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

MARK ADDISON LIBBEY, OF SOUTH BERVVIOK, MAINE.

DETONATING-ALARNI FIRE-EXTINGUISHER'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK ADDISON LIBBEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of South Berwick, in the county of York and State ofMaine, have invented a new and Improved Detonating-AlarmFire-Extinguisher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a combined detonating alarm andfire-extinguisher in which I seek to produce a simple and cheapconstruetion wherein the loud report or noise following the ignition ofa charge of high explosive serves to give an alarm of fire, while thebursting energy of the charge fractures an extinguishing-Huid containerand scatters the saine over a comparatively wide area in the vicinity ofa blaze.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined bythe annexed claims.

Reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through my improveddetonating-alarm fireextinguisher. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly brokenaway. Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 2 and showing the hammer ofthe percussion mechanism lowered to explode the charge of highexplosive. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of theinvention. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view through thelower portion of a metallic percussion-tube, showing an explosive chargeand a percussion-cap therein; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation, onareduced scale, showing a hood or guard in connection with the improvedextinguisher.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Figs. l to 3, inclusive, thecontainer or vessel 5 for the extinguishingfluid is shown in the form ofa globular receiver adapted to be made of glass. This vessel or receiveris provided with a cylindrical neck 6, which is ,902, dated August 16,1904. Serial No. 166,723. (No model.)

shown as having a male screw-thread 7, formed integral therewith, andthe neck is also provided with an internal ledge or shoulder 8. Withinthe container 5 for the fiuidextinguisher is arranged a receiver 9 for acharge of high explosive, (indicated at 10.) This receiver 9 is made inone piece with an upstanding tube 11 and a stopper or plug l2, saidreceiver, tube, and plug being preferably made of glass or otherbreakable material. The tube 1l and the receiver 9 are suspended withinthe container 5 by the plug 12 engaging with the ledge or shoulder 8,and this receiver 9 is adaptedto be charged with the high explosive lObefore it is placed or suspended within the container. 13 designates ametallic cap which is provided with an internal or female thread adaptedto be screwed on the threaded neck 6 of the container 5, thereby closingthe mouth of said neck in a way to prevent evaporation of theextinguishing fluid. The head of the cap 13 is provided with a metallictube 14., which passes freely through the plug' 12 and the tube 1l ofthe explosive-charge receiver 92 This metallic tube 14 may bemadeintegral with the headed cap 13, or, as shown by the drawings, said tubemay be attached to said cap,

but this is an optionalexpedient. The lower end of the metallic tube 14terminates within the chamber of the receiver 9, and, as

shown by Fig. l', said metallic tubeis provided at its lower end with afoot-fiange l5. This foot-flange provides a support for a percussion-cap16, which is disposed in the path of mechanical devices for explodingsaid cap, so as todetonate the high-explosive charge 10.

The means for exploding the cap in the construction shown by Fig. 1contemplates the employment of a normally stationary spindle 17, thelower end of which is pointed at 18 and which lies just above or restson the percussion-cap 16. This spindle 17 passes freely through themetallic tube 14, so as to project above the headed cap of the device,and on this spindle is fastened an anvil 19, the latter being'v in thepath of a hammer-weight 20, which is fitted slidably on the upperprojecting part of the spindle 17, so as to be guided thereby. Theextinguisher is adapted to be suspended from a stationary hook 21 bymeans of a bail 22, which is loosely connected to the metallic cap 13and is disposed for engagement with the suspension-hook or itsequivalent. rIhe hammer-weight 2O is normally held in a raised positionby a fusible link 23, which consists of a metallic alloy adapted to bemelted at a suitable temperature-say between 130O and 1li()O Fahrenheit.This fusible link is connected to the head of the hammer-weight, and itis adapted for engagement with the suspension-hook 21, so that it willbe maintained in a raised position by the hook. As shown by Fig.- 1, thelower part of the hammer-weight is provided with a cavity or chamber 24,in which is adapted to be placed an explosive torpedo A, (shown by Fig.1,) and when said weight is provided with said chamber the anvil 19 isfashioned to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the chamber inorder that the anvil may enter the chamber and coperate with the weightin exploding the torpedo. l Y

The operation of my alarm and extinguisher will readily be understoodfrom the foregoing description. The container 5 is charged with anextinguishing iiuid, the receiver 9 contains a high explosive, thetorpedo is placed above the anvil, the article is suspended from thehook 21, and the hammer-weight 2O is raised by the fusible link. In theevent of a lire the heat fuses the link 23, which allows thehammer-weight 20 to drop, thereby striking on the anvil 19 for explodingthe torpedo and imparting an impulse to the normally stationary spindle17. Said spindle is driven forcibly downward to explode thepercussioncap 16, which in turn ignites the explosive charge 10, wherebythe torpedo and the charge explode with avery loud report, which can bedistinctly heard for a long distance. The explosion of the torpedo andthe charge 10 serves to give an audible alarm, and the disruptive energyof the charge 10 breaks the receiver 9 and the container 5, so as toscatter the extinguishing fiuid in a fine spray over the fire.

In the embodiment of the invention shown by Fig. 4 a metallic tube 111is extended a suitable distance above the cap 13L and on which isslidably fitted a hollow hammerweight 24. rIhe spindle 25 is attached tothis hammer-weight for movement therewith and so as to be suspended in araised position by a fusible link 23. The construction of the device issimilar to that shown by Fig. 1, except that the spindle is slidable,whereby the melting of the link 23L releases the weight 24C, whichimpels the spindle forcibly against the percussion-cap, so as todetonate the charge of explosive material, which gives the alarm andthrows the extinguishing fluid in a spray over the lire.

In Fig. 5 the metallic tube 14 is of enlarged capacity to receive anexplosive charge 10, whi ch is confined within a suitable receiver 26,the latter being supported by the foot-flange 15 of said metallic tube.The receiver 26 is provided with a percussion-cap 16, adapted to beexploded by the impulse of the spindle and to detonate thehigh-explosive charge 10a.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings the extinguisher is surrounded by a suitableguard or hood 27, preferably of wire fabric, said guard being suspendedby links 28 from the bail 22.

The outside torpedo described is adapted for use in connection with therecessed hammerweight 20, and the anvil 20 may be employed in additionto the charge of high explosive when it is desired to produce an extraheavy or loud report in the event of the alarm and extinguisher beingplaced in isolated rooms or establishments; but it is evident that theoutside torpedo may be used independently of the high-explosive charge.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A lire-extinguisher comprising a iiuidcontainingvessel, a container within the vessel and adapted to receive anexplosivecharge, means for exploding said charge, means for holding adetonating explosive externally of said vessel, and means'for explodingthe detonating explosive when the explosive charge is set free todisrupt said vessel.

2. A lire-extinguisher comprising a fluidcontaining vessel, a containerwithin said vessel and adapted to receive an explosive charge, means formaintaining a percussion-cap adjacent to the explosive charge, aspindle, means for holding a detonating-cap, and a weight arranged toactuate the spindle and to explode the detonating-cap.

3. A fire-extinguisher comprising a fragile vessel for containing anextinguishing medium, a fragile receiver having a tube and suspendedwithin said vessel, another tube within the first tube, a charge of highexplosive in the receiver, a percussion -cap held by the second tubewithin said explosive charge, and means for exploding said cap.

4. A combined alarm and extinguisher consisting of a container for anextinguisher medium, a receiver for a high explosive and provided with atube and a stopper arranged to suspend the receiver within saidcontainer, a cap attached to the container and provided with a tubewhich fits in the receiver, a percussion-cap supported by said tube, andmeans for exploding said percussion-cap.

5. A combined alarm and extinguisher consisting of a container for anextinguishing medium, a high-explosive receiver suspended in saidcontainer, a cap having a tube extended IOO ITO

into said receiver, a percussion-Cap supported In testimony whereof Ihave signedmy name by said tube, means for suspending the conto thisspeoiiication in the presence oi' two subtainer, a spindle passingthrough the tube and scribing Witnesses.

disposed for coperation With said peroussion- MARK ADDISON LIBBEY cap,and a hammer-Weight suspended by a Witnesses: fusible link intocooperative relation with said CHARLES C. HOBBs,

spindle. J. B. WHITEHEAD.

